Button-grinding machine



July 14, 1925.

H. TONKS BUTTON GRINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1923 July 14, 1925. 1.545.709

H. TONKS BUTTON GRINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1925.

H. TONKS BUTTON GRINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 14, 1925.

i .UNIT'ED STATES PATENT HARRY rouxs, or EAST oEANeE, NEW JERSEY, AssIcNoE F ONE-HALF To THOMAS 'ronxs, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-GRINDING MACHINE.

Application filed February 27, 1923. Serial No 621,587.

To all whomz'tmag concern: i V

Be it known that I, HARRY Ton KS, a citizen, of the United States and; residing at East Orange, in the'county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and Improved Button-Grinding Machine, of which the following specification isa full disclosure. v

This invention appertains to grinding machines and it relates more especially to automatic mechanism for ornamentingblanks in the process of making buttonstherefrom. r In the manufacture of buttons, it is fre quently desirable to cut in theblanksa circular groove for the purpose of providing finished buttons with a predetermined configuration. For example, certain types of button have their faces provided with acircular shallow groove which materially improves the appearance of the button. The substance used in making buttons is relatively hard and this ornamentation is therefore cut by meansof a grinding wheel or the like and the operation has heretofore been performed on the successive blanks quite laboriously and with much loss of time by hand. p

A primary object of'this invention is to render available-an instrumentality of an automatic character capable of forming the blanks as aforesaid in rapid succession and of doing so in a more uniform and precise manner than has heretofore been possible. In a machine of this character, it is proposed to provide means for conveying the buttonblanks in continuous succession past the region of operations and to provide an automatic instrumentality which shalhduring the transit of said blanks, operate thereupon without losing timethrough stoppage to cut in the face of each blank a shallow circular groove accurately concentric with the blank and of uniform depth and character. K

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with, the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof thatthey may embody the same in the various ways contemplated" by this invention, drawings depicting a. preferred typical c01 st u t at have b en a nexed as a P at this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views of which 1 Fig.1 is a side-elevation of amechanism embodying the several characteristics of this invention. F ig. 2 is a plan of so much of the mechanism as suffices to disclose the structure and mode of operation 'of the inyention. F 3 is a fragmentary plan show- 1ng the position of thegrinding mechanism at the conclusion of its operation on one blank and preparatory to automatically returning for the purpose of resuming its operation on the next blank of the tram. Fig. 4 is a detail showing a fragmentary section through line 44 of'Fig. 2 and depicting the grinding wheel in operating relation to ablank held in a traveling chuck. Fig. 5 is a plan of a blank preparatory-to being operated upon and'Fig. 6 and 7', respectively, are plans and diametral sec tions of a blank after treatment. y

-Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a traveling roulette having a hub 2 whereby it is mounted for rotation about a vertical shaft '3'. This roulette I has a series of circumferential seats 4 which are adapted to engage annular portions 5 of a series of traveling chucks. These chucks are each 'journaled in collars 6 which form parts of an endless chain; said collars being pivotally connected by links 7 which engage pins seated in cars 8 extending radially from the collars 6. The upper ends of the chucks are formed to provide so-called collets 9 which are adapted to receive and firmly retain the'flat disk-like blanks 10 to be converted into buttons: it being unnecessary to dwell upon the specific details of construction of the chucks inasmuch as they conform to the conven tlonal type for holdlng blanks for various operations.

In this mechanism, the chucks, in theformof an endless chain pass continuously around the roulette 1 and, as they come into engagement with the said roulette, they are firmly held and accurately positioned virtue of the tension of the chain of chucks and the engagement of each individual chuck'with its corresponding seat 4' provided'by the roulette.

Mounted on'the frame of the machine is asegmental platform 11 which may be Se}v cured inplace in'any desirable manner, as,

. ing to preference.

ki l

for example, by the split-clamp 12 grasping the pillar 13 ,forming a part ofthem ain frame; Arranged. on this segmental platform is a track 14: which is curved concentrically with the axis of the center shaft 3 and, slidably arranged on the track 14: isa reciprocating table 15 which is normally held against a bumper 16 by means of a contractile spring 17; this representing the ini tial position of the grinding mechan-ism whereby it is ready to be brought into operative relation with a blank to'be formed.

The grindingelement is v.asmall cylinder 18 of abrasive material ,having its periphery formed with a small flange :19 which-latter cuts the groove; the remaining-portion of v the periphery of the cylinder being available, if desired, for polishing and grinding the face of the blank. This grindingelement is ,mounted on the extremity of a shaft 20 which may in turn be drivenby an electric motor 21.01 a pulley 22,, accord- The frame in which the shaft;20 is mounted is preferably mounted adjustably with relation to the reciprocating :table 15 as, for example, by having'a tdngue-and-groove connection with an intermediate part 23 which in turn has a transverse tongue-and-groove connection with a standard 24 uprising from' the table 15. An adjusting screw 25 enables the frame of the shaft 20 to be horizon-tally shifted towards and away from the center of the blank. The intermediate element 23 is at all times freely slidable in a vertical direction in the upright member 25L; the accuracy of the movement being regulatable by the conventionalgib positioned by screws 26. i

It may be explained that at the moment of bringing a blank directly under :the grinding element 18. it is necessary that said element should be somewhatelevated to prevent any damage to the parts and, to that ,end, a lifting cam 27 is secured to the stationary segmental platform 11 and is adapted to support alower roller 28 ,(see Fig. 1,) mounted on a leg 29 which is secured to the intermediate member 23.

YVhen the parts are positioned, as aforesaid, the traveling clamps can pass underneath the forward extremity of the shaft 20, including the grinding element 1- 8 w,ithout any interference with the blank but, the instant the blank is directly underneath the grinding element 18, there goes into action an instrumentality which advances the grinding mechanism at the same rate of travel as the blank is advancing and during this travel the grinding element is low,-

- ered on to the face of the blank to cut or fashion the same and, at the end of [that operation, is raised to clear the blankand, while raised and out of contact with any lank, it is eturned t the posi ion v hawn by Fig. 1. The instrumentality for effecting these operationscomprises series of spokes 30 which are secured to the'roulette by bolts 31 and are spaced angularly apart inv correspondence with the angular distance between thecenters of the successive chucks as they travel around the periphery of the roulette. The forward extremity of each spoke is adapted to engage a suitable catch carried by the ,traveling grinding mechanism. As shown by Fig. 2, the forward end 32 of then spoke is .in engagement with theiextremity 33 of asmall'llever pivoted at :34 to 'a' shelf 35 mounted on post:36 extend ing upwardly from the traveling table '15. A control lever is likewise pivoted at 37 to the same shelf and the. contractile springr38 normally holds I these parts in the position shown by Fig. 2 so that the end '39;of-the last-mentioned lever acts trigger-like -to prevent any rotation of the other lever. A stop-pin 40.determines theextent to which the spring 38 may move1thetrigger :lever. It will be seen, therefore, that whenfthe end 32 of the spoke 30 engages the extension33 it will positively cause :the traveling table 15 to advance against the .pull of the spring 17 .and at the same angular rate .as the blank secured in thecollet directly 'under the grinding wheel 18. Initially, however, there is :no contact between the two .last mentioned parts by reason of the operation of .the cam'27 but very shortly the roller'28 will ride down the incline shown at the forward end of the cam and the grinding element and parts associated therewith will descend to establish contact between the grinding wheel 18 and the blank in the collet chucln The ;eXten-t.to which this descent take place is, in turn, controlled by an adjustable stop 4-1 and the speed of the descent is cushioned by a spring 42 as will be understood byFigs. 1 and .4. =Dur= ing the aforesaid advance of the platform 15, the grinding operation will be accompli shed and thereupon it becomes necessary to elevate the grinding wheel and return it to its initial position. This elevation is ac, complished by means of .twoc-ams 43 and'e l which are .adjustably mounted on posts ex tending upwardly from the stationary platform 11 and which have their ends bevelled to receive rollers 45 and 46 moan-ted .at the upper portion .of the intermediate member 23. When these rollers ride on to the afere said cams, they lift the grinding wheel entirely clear of the blank and after this has been effected, a stop-pin 47 comes into contact with the trigger-like leve-r pivoted at 3'7 and such lever is released from the other lever which thereupon is free to swing and Thereupon, the sp ing 7 pul s back the sea c es. b e 15 .qu kly n il it is armemes rested-by the bumper 16. Duringthe intermediate part of the return travel of the grindingmechanism, the parts may descend but without any effect inasmuch as no blank is at that time in the region of the travel and before the parts are drawn back to their initial position, the roller 28 engages the cam 27 and elevates the grinding wheel so that it will not interfere with the forward movement of the next on-coming blank.

This cycle repeats itself successively as each blank arrives into the region of ac tivity. In order that the grinding wheel may cut a circular groove, a belt 4L8 travels around an idle pulley 49 and thence into contact with the pulleys 50 provided by each traveling chuck and, since these chucks are rotably mounted in their supports, the belt will cause the chucks, together with the blanks, to rotate during the period of contact with the grinding wheel and those circular grooves of the nature specified will be cut. a

It will be perceived from the foregoing that this mechanism is comparatively simple in structure and that it functions to form each blank in turn during its transit and without necessitating any stoppagein the travel of the blank so that, in consequence, the mechanism is capable of quantity production and in an entirely automatic manner will continuously operate on a succession of blanks to produce the desired re sult.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and

are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A machine of the nature disclosed combining a roulette; a train of chucks adapted to be engaged and held firmly by said roulette; a support reciprocatable in an arc concentric with said roulette; a tool located by said support adjacent the path of the blanks held by said chucks; means movable with the train of chucks for causing said support to advance at the same angular rate as said roulette when each chuck registers with said tool; means for establishing contact between said tool and the blank in said chuck during the advance of said support; means for rotating said chuck during the period of contact; and means for terminatingsaid contact and restoring said support to its initial position. v

A grinding-machine combining a train. of travelling chucks; a grinding tool normally positioned in offset relation to the path. of travel of the blanks conveyed by said chucks; means to rotate said tool; means operative when the blank attains a predeterininedrelation to said tool for causing said tool to travel in coincidencewith the path support, and for depressing said tool during the intermediate portion of the stroke of said support 3 and chuckmechanism adapted to maintain a blank in contact with said tool during the depression of thelatter.

.4. A button-forming machine combining a continually rotating roulette; a train of blank-retaining chucks adapted ,to travel around with saidroulette; "a rotating-tool normally positioned above the path of travel of the blanks; a support for said tool movable concent rically with. said roulette; a member movable with said roulette and adapted to engage said support to advance it when a blank comes into registry with said tool; and means for shifting said tool into engagement with said blank during a portion of the travel of said support,

5. A grinding-machine combining a train of travelling chucks; a tool normally positioned in offset relation to the path of travel of the blanks conveyed by said chucks; means operative when the blank attains a predetermined relation to said tool for causing said tool to travel in coincidence with the path of said blank and for establishing contact between said blank and said tool during a portion of the stroke of said tool; means for rotating said chucks when in registry with said tool; and means for quickly returning said tool while out of contact with said blank to its initial position.

6. A machine of the nature disclosed combining a reciprocatable support a tool mounted on said support; means for elevating said tool relative to said support during the end periods of. the stroke of said support, and for depressing said tool during the intermediate portion of the stroke of said support; and mechanism including a rotating chuck adapted to rotate and maintain a blank in contact with said tool during the de aression of the latter, r

A button-forming machine combining a continually rotating roulette; atrain of blank-containing chucks adapted to travel around with said roulette means for rotating said chucks, while revolving said roulette; a rotating tool normally positioned above the path of travel of the blanks; a support for said tool revoluble concentrically with said roulette; a member rotatable with said roulette and adapted to engage said support to advance it when a blank comes into registry with said tool; and j means for shifting said tool into contact with said blank during a portion of the travel of said support.

8. A grinding-machine combining a train of travelling chucks; a grinding too-l normally positioned in offset relation tothe path of travel of the blanks conveyed by said chucks; means operative when the blank attains a predetermined relation to said tool for causing said too-l to travel in coincidence with the path of said blank and for establishing contact between said blank and said tool during a portion of the stroke of said tool; means adjacent the extreme positions of said tool for raising said tool out of contact with saidblank; a detent device for rendering said tool translating means inoperative at the end of the stroke of the tool; and means for quickly returning said tool while out of contact with said blank to its initial position.

9. A machine of the nature disclosed combining a recipro catable support a tool mountto maintain a blank in contact with said tool during the depression of the latter; and a detent device operativeto effect the return-stroke of said tool.

10. A button-forming machine combining a continually rotating roulette; atrain of blank containing chucks adapted to travel around with said roulette; a rotating tool normally positioned above the path of travel of the blanks; a support for said tool movable concentrically with said roulette; a detent; a 'member movable with saidroulette and adapted to engage .said-detent to ad vance said support when a blank comes intoregistry with said tool; means for shifting said tool into engagement with said blank during a portion of the travel of said sup port; and a trip 'i'or disengagingsaid detent at the end of the working-stroke of said; support.

In witness whereof, Ihereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses. 

